Shade-holder.



M. P. STEVENS.

SHADE HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED APR.2. 1915.

1,203,153. Patented Oct. 31,1916.

MER'ION RsrnvEns, or rinsr oaanen, NEW- JERSEY.

snann-nonnnn.

Specification of LettersEatent.

Patented ea. 91, rare.

Application filed April 2, 1915. Serial No. 18,689.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Mnn'ron P. STEVENS, a citizen of the United ,States, residing at East Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shade- Holders, of which the following is a specification. I

' My invention relates to new and useful improvements in shade holders adapted to hold a shade, reflector or the like in operative relation to an illuminating lamp, particularly of the electric incandescenttype.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a fixture which may beapplied conveniently to wall connections, receptacles and sockets adapted to receive and support an incandescent light bulb, particularly where the socket or connector is secured against a surface such as a ceiling'or wall, for instance the side wall or roof of a car.

A. further object is to provide adevice of the character set forth which can be applied in operative relation to a lighting fixture Without alteration or change in the construc-. tion of such fixture, and without; disturbing the same or its electrical connections.

The invention consists in the improvements to be more fully described hereinafter and the novelty of which will be particularly pointed out and distinctly: claimed,

1 fully and clearly illustrate my invention in the accompanying drawings, to be taken as a part of this specification, and wherein Figurel is a view in side elevation of a preferred embodiment of my invention showing the same applied to anincandescent socket or lamp-receiving member, and

supporting a shade or globe in proper relation to the light bulb, said socket member and bulb being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed vertical central section through the construction shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is an enlarged view in side elevation of a globe-gripping means constituting one ofthe elements of my invention.

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation, partly in section showing another embodiment of the same invention.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, 1 designates the surface line of a ceiling or wall, or other member, against which is secured, by any well known means, a socket connector 2 of any well known construction adapted to receive the nipple 30f an incandescent light bulb a.

I have shown the elements just described of well known constructions in connection with which my invention. is particularly adapted tov be employed, but I do not desire to be limited to these constructions, and I do not particularly describe the same, as they do not constitute any part of'my invention.

v 5. designates a securing or supporting member adapted to be applied. in relation to the lighting fixture inqordento support the globe in proper relation to the lighting fixture, said securing and supporting means preferably consisting of a rigid metallic cylindrical shell or collar adapted. to be arranged about the socket or receptacle 2 and having an annular exterior flange 6; adapted to abut the surface 1 andbe secured'in place thereon by screws 7, or other. fastening means. engaging the wall or ceiling or other surface supporting the said socket. This member 5 need not necessarily be cylindrical but is preferably made of that form for convenience in manufacture, and is of such diameter that when mounted in operative relation to the socket will leave an annularv space between said member and the socket for the accommodation. of partsv tobe presently described. At a point between its ends the member 5 is provided with an internal laterally projecting annular flange 8, the inner edge of which terminates preferably at a point short of the socket connector 2 so as to provide a space between the inner edge of said. flange and said socket.

Supported by the flange 8 is a gripping member, preferably having means for detachably engaging a well known form of globe, although I desire it, understood that it might also be used for engaging and sup.- porting a shade or reflector. This gripping member consists preferably of a cylindrical metal shell 9 secured at its upper endto said flange 8 by means o f'a circumferential flange 10 on the upper edge portion of said gripping member, and an annular externally projecting bead 11 also on said member, said flange .10 and head 11, when the parts are assembling, being arranged respectively above and below the flange 8 and serving as a means for connecting the gripping memher and said flange.

I do not desire to be limited to the flange 8 as the means for securing the. gripping member inflxed relationto the supporting member, nor to the connection of said grip-- ping member directed to the supporting member, as other means within the scope of my invention may be employed for supporting said gripping means in fixed relation to the supporting member.

The gripping member 9 is slotted longitudinally as at 12 to provide spring gripping fingers 13, the lower end portions of which are formed to provide locking recesses 14 adapted to receive and engage a flange 15 at the upper edge of a globe, shade or reflector 16. The recesses 14 are preferably formedby bending the fingers outwardly, as shown, and then inward, whereby not only are said recesses formed, but the fingers are provided with external projections 14. The lower ends of the fingers are bent outward as at 14 to facilitate engagement of the globe therewith. These resilient fingers may be either formed to normally engage, by their spring action, said flange 15, or to be moved into engagement therewith by means to be presently described.

I will now describe means for either hold ing the spring-gripping fingers in engagement with the flange 15 or for moving the same into engagement therewith and holding them in such engagement, accordingly as to whether said fingers will normally engage the globe or it is necessary to force them into engagement therewith. This means preferably consists of a cylindrical sleeve or shell 17 surrounding the element 9 and concentric therewith, and of such diameter as to provide a space 18 for a purpose to be presently described. By reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that this member 17 is arranged in telescopic relation to the supporting member 5. This sleeve 17 is preferably deflected outward at its lower end to provide a flange 19, to which is secured in any suitable manner a locking ring 20, the lower edge portion of which is turned upward and inward within the sleeve to provide an annular inclined cam face 21 adapted to engage the outer portions or projections 14 of the fingers 13, which are bent outward to provide the recesses 14, so that when said sleeve 17 is in one position the inclined cam face 21 will maintain the lower ends of the fingers in proper position to lock the recesses 14 over the flange or bead 15. The inner upper edge of that portion of the ring 20 forming the cam surface 21 is formed to provide an annular spring seat 22 against which abuts one end of a helical expansion spring 23, the opposite end of which abuts the under surface of the flange 8, said spring being located in the space 18 heretofore mentioned. This spring normally exerts its force to thrust the member 17 toward the globe whereby the cam surface 21 engages the spring fingers to hold them in looking relation to the bead or flange 15. The length of the sleeve 17 is immaterial, but I prefer to have it project within the space between the collar 5 and the member 9, so as to cover the spring and afford a more sightly appearance to the fixture, as well as to provide for the guiding of said sleeve 17 in its movements toward and away from the spring fingers in holding and releasing the same.

It is believed the operation will be obvious from the above description, but it may be briefly stated as follows: It being premised that the parts are in the relative relation shown in Fig. 1, and it is desired to release the globe 16 from the fixture, the sleeve 17 and ring 20 are moved away from the recessed ends of the spring fingers to a point where the cam surface 21 will be far enough away from the outer faces 14 of the recessed portions of said fingers to permit the latter to have free lateral movement suflicient to permit the flange 15 to be removed from on gagement with the recesses 14 in said fingers. This movement of the sleeve 17 compresses the spring 23 so that when the globe is removed the sleeve 17 will be automatically returned to its holding or looking position by said spring. When it is desired to apply a globe to the fixture the operator moves the member 17 to carry the cam 21 away from the fingers 13, whereupon the fingers 13 are free to move laterally to permit the flange of the globe being inserted within the lower end of the gripping member and into engaging relation with the recesses 14 in the fingers. The operator then releases the operating member or sleeve 17, which is automatically moved by the spring to throw the cam 21 in engagement with the spring fingers and maintain the same in looking relation to the flange 15, so that the latter cannot be removed except upon the movement of the locking sleeve away from said fingers.

In Fig. 4 I have shown another embodiment of the same invention, in which the supporting member and the gripping means may be constructed substantially in the same manner as the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but the operating member or sleeve is constructed and arranged in a different manner but within the scope of my invention. In this form instead of using a reciprocating sleeve I provide the same with a threaded connection with the supporting member, for this purpose said sleeve 17 having a threaded upper end as shown at 24, and I also thread the inner face of the member 5 as shown at 25, the said threads interengaging so that rotation of the operating member 17 in one direction will move it into holding relation to the gripping fingers, while rotation in the opposite direction will move it from such engagement. In this construction the lower portion of the operating member is provided with an inclined surface and cooperates with a gripping means of the same construction and in the same mannerv shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, and it is thought that further description of these elements will be understood without repeating the description thereof.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is l. A fixture of the character described comprising a wall socket, a member adapted for support independently of the wall socket and to surround the latter, a gripping member supported upon and in fixed-relation to said first-named member and having resilient gripping fingers, and an operating member surrounding said gripping member and movable toward and away from the firstnamed member and having cam means adapted to engage said fingers to maintain them in holding relation to a globe, reflector, shade, or the like.

2. A fixture oi the character described comprising a wall socket, a hollow member adapted for support independently of the wall socket and to surround the latter, a gripping member consisting of a sleeve mounted upon and in fixed relation to said first-named member and having resilient gripping fingers, an operating sleeve slidable upon said gripping fingers and having cam means adapted to engage said fingers to maintain them in holding relation to a globe, reflector, shade, or the like.

A fixture of the character described, comprising a wall socket, a member adapted for support independently of the wall socket and to surround the same, a gripping member supported by and in fixed relation to said first-named member and having resilient gripping fingers, and an operating member surrounding said gripping member and housed within the supporting member and movable to ard and away from the same, said operating member having cam means adapted to engage said fingers to maintain them in holding relation to a globe, reflector, shade or the like.

i. A fixture of the character described, comprising a wall socket, a member adapted for support independently of the wall socket and to surround the same, a gripping member supported by and in fixed relation to said first-named member and having resilient gripping fingers, and an operating member surrounding said gripping member and telescopically arranged relative to the supporting member and movable toward and away from the same, said operating member having cam means adapted to engage said fingers to maintain them in holding relation to a globe, reflector, shade or the like, and a spring acting on said operating member to urge it into holding relation to said fingers.

5. A fixture of the character described, comprising a tubular supporting member adapted to surround a wall socket and having an internal flange, gripping means consisting of a sleeve secured to said flange at one end and having gripplng fingers at its other end, an operating member in telescopic relation to said supporting member at one end and having at its opposite end cam means adapted to engage said fingers to maintain them in holding relation to a globe, reflector, shade, or the like. i

6. A fixture oi the character described, comprising a tubular supporting member adapted to surround a wall socket and having an internal flange, gripping means consisting of a sleeve secured to said flange at one end and having gripping fingers at its other end, an operating member telescopically arranged relative to saidsupporting member at one end and having at its opposite end cam means adapted to engage said fingers to maintain them in holding relation to a globe, reflector, shade, or the like, and a spring to force said operating member to holding engagement with said fingers.

7. A fixtureof the character described, comprising a tubular supporting member adapted to surround a wall socket and having an internal flange, gripping means consisting of a sleeve secured to said flange at one end and having gripping fingers at its other end, an operating member housed within said supporting member at one end and having at its opposite end cam means adapted to engage said fingers to maintain them in holding relation to a globe, reflector, shade, or the like, and a spring engaging said flange and said operating member to force the latter into holding engagement with said fingers.

8. A fixture of the character described, comprising a tubular supporting member adapted to surround a wall socket and hav ing an internal flange, gripping means consisting of a sleeve secured to said flange at one end and having gripping fingers at its other end, an operating member telescopically arranged relative to said supporting member at one end and having at its opposite end cam means adapted to engage said fingers to maintain them in holding relation to a globe, reflector, shade, or the like, and a spring engaging said flange and said operating member to force the latter into holding engagement with said fingers, said spring being housed between said gripping means and said operating member.

9. A fixture of the character described, comprising a tubular member adapted to surround a wall socket, gripping means consisting of a cylindrical sleeve secured at one end in. fixed relation to said member, and having gripping fingers at its other end, a cylindrical operating member telescopically arranged relative to said tubular member at one end and spaced from the gripping sleeve and having cam means adapted to engage said fingers to maintain them in holding re- Mai signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MERTON P. STEVENS.

lation to a globe, reflector, shade, or the like, and also having an internal spring seat, and a helical spring surrounding said gripping means and located inside the operating memher and exerting its force against said spring seat.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto Witnesses:

H. D. MURPHY, WALDO M. BROWN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

